Cigar knurler



G, HOEFLE Dec. 9, 1941.

CIGAR KNURLER Filed 001:. 23, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0% m w a y INVENTOR BY GEORGE HOEF E ATTORNEY G, H'OEFLE Dec. 9, 1941.

CIGAR KNURLER Filed Oct. 25, 1937 3 sheat s-Sheet 2 GEORGE HOEF LE BY 2 ATTORNEY G, HOEFLE CIGAR KNURLER Filed Oct. 23. 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR GEORGOEFLE ATTORN Patented Dec. 9, 1941 ternational Cigar Machinery Company, a

V poration of New Jersey I Application October 23, 1937, Serial No. 170,569

18 Claims.

This invention relates to a cigar knurler for smoothing, the head ends of cigars and laying the wrapper flag smoothly. thereon, and more particularly to an improvement in knurlers whereby more knurling time for automatic knurling is obtained and whereby cigars maybe held firmly during the greater part of the knurling time.

Automatic knurlers for knurling cigars asthey are delivered from the cigar machine have generally been of the type disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent to R. E. Rundell, No. 1,582,545, in which the knurler is simply placed alongside the path of the cigars through or from the machine, and

whatever relatively short time is left over from the other operations on the cigar at thatpart of the machine is used for knurling. Also, the knurler is ordinarily used for locating the cigar for a concurrent operation, as for examplethe operation of trimming the other end of the cigar. I

In cigar machines which include such a knurler arrangement as standard equipment, and which comp-rise probably a majority of the cigar machines in use at the present, time, the conventional timing allows about 30 of the machine,

cycle of 360 for the knurling operation.

Further, since the cigars are usuallylocated by the pressure of the knurler endwise of the cigar to slide the same, the operation of such a machine is subject to the disadvantage that the J means'which grips the cigar at this position to hold it for knurling, must grip it rather lightly, to permit sliding of the cigar without injury to the delicate cigar wrapper, and hence the pressure exerted by the knurler is quite limited, and

is somewhat inadequate at times. As a result, especially with certain shapes of cigars and types of wrappers, it is necessary to hand-knurl some or all of the cigars issuing from the. machine.

For this reason a hand knurler is disclosed in the above-mentioned Rundellpatent.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid ,diiiiculties and to make the machine knurling capable of keeping up with greater machine speeds and still to obtaina longer knurling period, at the same time eliminating hand knurling completely.

It is also an object to accomplish the foregoing desirable results in such a manner that the improved construction will cooperate with, and take advantage of, a knurler structure available and in common use on conventional cigar machines.

A further object is to avoid the necessity for providing positively acting mechanism'for transferring the partially knurled cigar from the pritaken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

cor-

maryknurling station to the secondary knurling station, by so organizing the several co-operating means that when the partially knurled cigar is released by the gripping means operating at the primary knurling station, it will be gravity biased toward the secondary knurling station, and will be concurrently disposed suitably for the secondary knurling operation, by virtue of such gravity bias, without the need for further co-axial displacement, thus, obviating all interference between knurlers and transfer devices, and all mechanism designed to clear transfer'devices from the path of the secondary knurler, this result being attained by such elimination'of interfering transfer mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for so co-ordinating the devices for gripping the cigar at the primary-'knurling station with means for locating the same partially knurled cigar properly at the secondary knurling station, that the release of the grip at the first station is: automatically accompanied by setting a stop at-the secondary station, this being accomplished preferably by connected primary gripping meansand secondary stop means operating at alternating positions of a unitary oscillating structure. I

Another object of the invention is to so or- 'ganizethe mechanism for performing the sec- 30;

ondary knurling operation upon a cigar that has been already knurled in a primary operation, that while the first knurling may occupy a. relatively small portion,=say less than 90 of the conventional machine cycle of 360", per contra, the secondary knurling operation upon the same, cigar may avail of over 90 of the immediately succeeding machine cycle, and may apply more pressure to hold the cigar and knurl it, thusincreasing greatly the aggregate time of knurling and the efficiency of the total knurling operation.

3 With these and other objects, the invention consists of certain constructions and'combinations of which an illustration is herein set forth, and then pointed out. in the accompanying claims.

In the accompanying drawings;

Fig. I is a front elevation of the improved knurling device; 7

Fig. 2 is a view in sectional plan of the same,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the sametaken in the direction indicated by the'arrows atthe ends of the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig.4 is also an end elevation of the same taken the opposite direction, as indicated by lating movement by means of a pinion B mounted on shaft 1, the pinion 6 being rocked by a gear rack 8 having a reciprocating movement derived from a lever 85 fulcrumed at 86 upon a frame part 81 (Fig. 6), and having'a cam follower 84 f running in a face cam groove 83 of a disk cam 82 fixed upon the shaft 8|, of the cigar making machine with which the device is used. Shaft is supported in bearings of a bracket 9 rising from the bed ll] of the cigar machine proper. C'o-acting withthe re-roller drunf 5is a re-roller con'ca've'or chute. I' attached at its lower ends to 'alug 2 fastened to a supporting shaft l3 held by a'pair of brackets |4 mounted on the bed III.

- The wrap-ped'cigar's are automatically delivered to the re-rolling device just described, at "the bevel shaped end l5 of the re-roller concave 'll'" (Fig; 2). and are rolled to a position within the range'of the first knurling device where the cigar is 'held by means of a pair of supporting fingers .l8 and a clamp'finger Supporting fingers I6 (see Fig. 3), are mounted on a horizontal shaft IBsup'portedin bearings carried by an arm I 9 of a bracket fastened to the stationary shaft l3. To the shaft I8 is fastened an operating lug 2| projecting into the path of a .pih' 2 2 (Fig. 3) mounted on the lower portion of the oscillating gear rack 8.

'A tension spring 23 (Fig. 3) is provided for the purpose of permitting supporting fingers I6 to project through slots 24 (Fig. 2) of the chute into the path of the re-rolled cigar after the same is discharged from the re-roller drum 5. After this primary knurling operation, and upon the engagement of pin 22 with operating lug 2|, the supporting fingers l8 are forced'to retreat beneath the surface of the chute I I, thus permitting the cigar to roll down the inclined portion of chute H to the second knurling station, defined by the secondary knurler 48, to be described more at length. An adjusting and stop screw 25 (Fig. 3) 'is' provided for the correct setting and adjusting of supporting fingers l6.

' Clamping finger (Fig. 3) is mounted on a rockshaft 26 supported in bearings at the upper end of'ari arm 21 on bracket 20. To shaft 26 is fastened a cam lug 28 which, when engaging with a roller 29, causes shaft 26 to turn partly and thereby effects a lifting of the clamp finger 11. The roller 29, (Figs. 1 and 2), by means of a stud 30, is pivoted to an operating arm 3| fulcrumed on a stud 32' (Fig. 1) held by a support- "mg: bracket 33 mounted on bed It]. Arm 3| is oscillated by means of a link 34 (Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6) extending from a cam lever 35 having a follower 90 engaging with a proper cam 89 on a shaft 8| of the cigar machine, thelever 35 being pivoted at 9| upon a part 92 of the frame. To stud of arm 3| is pivoted a roller 36 (Fig. "2) engaging with a collar, 31 mounted on a knurler shaft 38 ofthe primary knurler station. Said knurler shaft 38 is constantly driven by means of ,a. conventional worm gear 39 (Fig. 2) engaging with a worm 40 mounted on a shaft 4| connected with the main drive of the cigar machine. Shaft 38 is supported in suitable bearings carried by a housing 42 attached to bracket 43, fastened to the bed ll] of the machine.

When a cigar arrives at this primary knurling station and is held by the above-described action of the supporting fingers l6 and clamping finger H, the rotating knurler shaft 38, carrying a knurler head 44 is moved horizontally by means of arm 3| and roller 30 towards the cigar, until knurler head 44 engages with the head end of the 'same, causing the wrapper fiag to be moothly knurled onto the head of the cigar. The horizontal-movement of the knurler moves the cigar bodily to the position shown in Fig. 2, where properly-positioned knives 19 cut off that end. Such movement of the cigar is permitted by the yieldingpressure of the spring-biased clamping fingers I6, I1, and this may be regulated so that no injury will result from the sliding movement to the delicate wrapper of the cigar.

Due to the fact that in this construction the supporting fingers it, through lug 2| (Fig. 3),

are operated by means of the pin 22, mounted on the reciprocating gear rack 8 which oscillates reroller drum 5, the primary knurling time at this station is very limited, occupying say 30 of the total machine cycle of 360". Therefore, in pursuance of the present invention, after the retreat of the knurling and clamping means at this primary knurling station, the cigar, freed by such retreat, rolls down the inclined surface of the concave chute l to a secondary knurling station, where the cigar is arrested by a detent device formed by a pair of stop fingers 48 and a clamp plate 41. Stop fingers 46 are mounted on the rock shaft 28, which, as illustrated in Fig. 3, causes stop fingers 46 to descend as soon as the clamp fingers l6 and I! are cleared from the cigar at the primary knurling station.

The secondary knurling station is provided with a knurler head 48 which is shown as of the same type and design as the one used in the first knurling operation. Said knurler head 48 is mounted in similar fashion on a horizontally reciprocating knurler'shaft 49 (Figs. 1 and 2) supported in suitable bearing lugs at the upper ends of posts forming part of a frame 50 fastened to bed It]. Shaft 49 is also constantly rotated by means of a pulley 5| and a belt 52 from a pulley 53 mounted on the knurler shaft 38 of the primary knurler. Shaft 49 carries a collar 54 with which engages a roller 55 pivoted to an operating arm 58 loosely mounted on a stud 51 (Figs. 1 and .4) held by bracket 58. To arm 56 is also pivoted a roller 58 engaging with a cam 59 mounted on a shaft 65 driven by means of a sprocket 6| and a chain 62 from a sprocket 89 on the main drive 8| of the cigar machine (Figs. 5 and 6). A tension spring 63 (Fig. 1) is provided, for the purpose of keeping roller 58 in steady contact with cam 59. Shaft 8|] is also supported in sutable bearing lugs of bracket 59. To arm 55 is also pivoted a link 64 which, at its opposite end, is provided with a slot 65 entered slidably by a supporting pin 66 extending from a bearing lug 61 of bracket 59. Link 84 carries a cam piece 68 with which engages a roller 63 pivoted to a clamping lever 10, which in turn control the up and down motion of clamp plate 41. Lever H1 is loosely mounted on a stud 1| (Fig. 1) held by a lug 12 of an upright bearing post 61. The opposite, free end of clamping lever 10 extends over the concave chute H, and carries a guide bushing 13 (Fig. 1) slidably supporting the vertical clamping stem 14, to the lower end of which is fastened the clamp plate 41, while to the upper end of the same is attached a guide plate I carrying aguide pin 16 engaging with a suitable hole in lever to prevent clamp plate 41 from turning. A pressureadjusting spring 1'! (Figs. 1 and 3),, placedbetween arm H1 and clamp plate 41, is provided, as already noted, for the purpose of preventing ine jury to the delicate wrapper of the cigar while the latter is held by clamp plate 61, and when the secondary knurler head 48 engages the cigar for thefinal knurling operation. A tension spring 18 (Fig. 1),anchored to lever 10 assures a steady contact of roller 69 and cam piece 68. The pressure of the clamping member 41 is adequate to prevent retreat of the cigar lengthwise when pressure is applied by the secondaryknurler 48.

It will be seen from the foregoing disclosure that the movements of the'chain 62, the rack 8 and the lever 35 are all coordinated by their connections with a common driving haft 8|, so that by;the provision of suitable cams thereon, as those already described at Hand 89, the operation of the re-roller 5, the knurlers 44 and 48, and the grippers IB-l'| and 4641, together with their associated mechanisms, will all be carried out in properly-timed relation to secure the various results hereinbefore described, and pointed out in the claims. i

What is claimed is:

,1.;In a cigar machine of the class described, knurling mechanism adapted to'perform a pluralityiof exclusively mechanical knurling operationsupon each of an indefinite series of cigars, successively, said mechanism includingmeans to locate the cigars individually at a knurling position and simultaneously to perform a light knurlingoperation on the cigar so positioned, means tohold the cigar more firmly for a further knurling operation, and means to discharge the completely knurled cigar from said mechanism.

2. In a cigar machine of the clas described, knurling mechanism comprising means adapted to receive each cigar and forward it in a predetermined path, a primary knurling means adapted to locate and knurl the head of each cigar so forwarded, at a primary knurling station disposed transversely of said path, a secondary knurler means, at an advanced knurling station; for completing the knurling of said cigar; means to forward the cigar from station to station; gripper devices at each of said stations, and mechanism connected to said gripper device at the primary knurling station and adapted to operate said secondary gripper to grip the cigar previously released by said primary gripper.

3. In a cigar machine of the class described, knurling mechanism comprising means adapted toreceive each cigar and forward itin a predetermined path, a primary knurling means adapted to locate and knurl the headof each cigar so forwarded, at a primary knurling station disposed transversely of said path, a secondary knurler means,at an advanced knurling station for completing the knurling of said cigar, and devices to forward the cigar from station to station, including a detent device for arresting each cigar at said secondary knurling station and also including means for tripping said detent device to permit the discharge of each completely knurled cigar in time with the forwarding of its successor from the primary knurling station to the secondary knurling station. r

4. In a cigar machine of the class described, knurling mechanism comprising means adapted to reecive each'cigar and forward it in a predetermined path, a primary knurling means adapted :to knurl the head of each cigar so forwarded, at a primary knurling station disposed transversely of said path, and a secondary knurler means, at an advanced knurling station, for completing the knurling of said cigar, means for forwarding the cigars from station to station including a detent device for arresting each cigar at said secondary knurling station; and means for tripping saiddetent device to permit the discharge of each completely knurledcigar in time with the forwarding of its successor from the primary knurling station to the secondary knurling station, said detent device being formed as an oscillating element having anarm provided with a cigar-detaining member, and having another arm extending beyond the axis of oscillation and provided with a gripping member adapted to aid in clamping a cigar at said primary knurling station. 7

5;;In a cigar machine of the class'idescribed, knurlingmechanism comprising means adapted to receive each cigar and forward it in a predeterminedpath, a primary knurling means adapted to knurl the head of each cigar so forwarded, at a primary'knurling station'disposed transversely of said' path, and a secondary knurler means, at an advanced knurling station for completing the knurling of said cigar, and mechanism for forwarding the cigars from station to station, said forwarding mechanism being constructed and arranged to'produce a relative axial movement betweensaid knurlers and said cigars to bring the sameinto operating engagement with eachother, to provide a total knurling period longer than that permitted at a single station by the operating cycle of the machine; adetent device for arresting each cigar at said secondary station; means for gripping said cigar at each station during each knurling operation; and means for tripping said detent device to permit the discharge of each completely knurled cigar in time with the approach of its successor.

6. In a cigar machine of the class described, knurling mechanism comprising means adapted to receive each'cigar and forward it in a predetermined path, a primary knurling means adapted to knurl the head of each cigar so forwarded, at a primary knurling station disposed transversely of said path, and a secondary knurler means, at an advanced knurling station for completing the knurling of said cigar, and mechanism for forwarding the cigar from station to station, said forwarding mechanism being constructed and arranged to produce a relative axial movement betweensaid knurlers and said cigar to bring the same into operating engagement with each other, to provide a total knurling period longer than that'permitted at a single station by the operating cycle of the machine; a detent device for arresting each cigar at said secondary station; means for gripping said cigar at each station during each knurling operation; ,and means for tripping said detent device to permit the dischargeof each completely knurled cigar in time with the approach of its successor; said detent device being formed as an oscillating element having an arm provided with a cigararresting member, and having another arm extending beyond the axis of oscillation and provided with a grip device adapted to aid in holdingor, clamping a cigar at said primary knurling station.

'7. In a cigar machine from which cigars are delivered in succession, the combination with means for receiving and knurling the delivered cigars comprising mechanism forwarding the cigars along a predetermined path, a yielding gripper so arranged as to grip the cigars while permitting endwise movement of the cigar in its grip without injury to the same, a primary knurler, means for giving said knurler a locating movementto move a cigar to a predetermined endwise position in the gripper to locate the same while knurling the cigar, a secondary knurler arranged to act on the cigar forwarded from said primary knurler, and means for preventing endwise movement of the cigar during the operation of said secondary knurler to complete the knurling of said cigar,

8. In a cigar machine from which cigars are delivered in succession, the combination with means for receiving and knurling the delivered cigars, comprising mechanism forwarding the cigars along a predetermined path, a yielding gripper so arranged as to grip the cigars seriatim while'permitting endwise movement of each cigar in its grip without injury to the same, a primary knurler, means for giving said knurler a locating movement to move the cigar to a predetermined endwise position in the gripper to locate the same while knurling the cigar, a secondary knurler arranged to act on the cigar forwarded from said primary knurler and means for preventing endwise movement of the cigar during the operation of said secondary knurler to complete the knurling of said cigar, means intermittently operating the gripper at said primary knurler to alternately grip and release a cigar and mechanism connected to said primary gripper to operate said means for preventing endwise movement to grip the cigar previously released by said primary gripper.

9. In a cigar machine from which cigars are delivered in succession, the combination with means for receiving and knurling the delivered cigars; of means forwarding the cigars along a predetermined path; a yielding gripper soarranged as to grip the cigars seriatim while permitting endwise movement of each cigar in its grip without injury to the same; a primary knurler; and means for giving said knurler a locating movement to move the cigar to a predetermined endwise position in'the. gripper to locate the same while knurling the cigar; said yielding gripper including a. rocker element mounted. pivotally intermediate its ends, and formed with arms extending oppositely from said pivot, one of which arms is formed with a member of said gripper, and the opposite arm is formed with a detent member adapted to intersect said path at an advanced position, said rocker element being so disposed that each cigar may be released by rocking movement of said element around its pivot to withdraw said grip member from the cigar at the primary knurling station, and at the same time said detent member will be moved into the path of forwarding of said cigar to arrest the same, thereby defining a secondary knurling station; a gripper device arranged to grip the cigars seriatim at said secondary knurling station when so arrested, and acting with adequate firmness to hold each cigar against endwise movement during a secondary knurling operation; and a secondary knurler adapted to act on the cigar while so held.

10. An attachment having the features claimed in claim 1, in which said mechanism comprises a rocking control element provided at its upper 1 clamping member acting to clamp a cigar at the primary knurling position, and the detent member acting to hold the same cigar for the further knurling operation.

11'. In a cigar machine including mechanism from which cigars are delivered in succession, the'combination with said mechanism of an inclined chute adapted to receive and forward each cigar so delivered; a primary knurling means adapted to knurl the head of each'cigar so farwarded at a primary knurling station disposed transversely of said chute; and a secondary knurler meansfor completing the knurling of said cigar at a lower knurling station to which the same cigar is gravity biased along said chute when released by said primary knurling means.

12. An attachment'for a cigar machine of the class described, having mechanism from which cigars are delivered in succession; said attachment comprising a primary knurling means adapted to-receive seriatim each cigar so delivered, and acting to knurl its'head; a secondary knurler meansfor receiving said partially knurled cigar from said primary knurling means and acting to complete the knurling of said cigar; and a chute along which each cigar is gravitybiased to descend to the secondary knurling station when released by said primary knurling means.

13. An attachment having the features claimed in claim 12, in which said chute is spanned in the direction of travel of said cigars by a rocking control element provided at its upper end with a clamping member and at its lower end with a detent member, said members being alternatingly moved into operative position and inoperative position by rocking said element, the clamping member acting to clamp a cigar at the upper or primary knurling station, and the detent member acting to arrest the same cigar at the lower or secondary knurling station.

14. An attachment having the features claimed in claim 12, in which said chute is spanned in the direction of travel of said cigars by a rocking control element provided at its upper end with a clamping member and at its lower end with a-detent member,-said members being alternatingly moved into operative position and inoperative position by rocking said element, the clamping member acting to clamp a cigar at the upper or primary knurling station, and the detent member acting to arrest the same cigar at the lower or secondary knurling station, and means to rock said control element, whereby it is constituted the exclusive control means for regulating feeding movements of said cigars successively from said primary knurling station to said secondary knurling station.

15. In a cigar machine including re-rolling means'from which cigars are delivered in succession; the combination with said re-rolling means of a chute adapted to receive seriatim each cigar so delivered; a primary knurling means adapted to knurl the head of each cigar so delivered to the chute at a primary knurling station disposed transversely of said chute; and a secondary knurler means for completing the knurling of said cigar at a lower knurling station to which the same cigar is gravity biased along said chute when released by said primary knurling means.

.16. The novel method of machine knurling a cigar, said method including a first knurling of each cigar, said first knurling occupying a relatively small proportion of the operating cycle of the machine, to allow time for other operations during the same cycle, and a secondary knurling operation which occupies a relatively large proportion of the next succeeding operating cycle of said machine.

17. The novel method of machine knu-rling a cigar, said method including a first knurling of each cigar, said first knurling occupying a relatively small proportion of the operating cycle of the machine, to allow time for other operations during the same cycle, and a secondary knurling operation which occupies a relatively large proportion of the next succeeding operating cycle of said machine, said first knurling occupying less than 90 of the conventional machine cycle of 360 and said secondary knurling operation occupying more than 90 of the immediately succeeding machine cycle, whereby each cigar is knurled to an extent aggregating over 90 of a machine cycle.

18. In a cigar machine, mechanism for performing a finishing operation upon a cigar, mechanism coordinated with said first-named mechanism for performing a plurality of exclusively mechanical knurling operations upon said cigar, and mechanism to cause relative movement between said cigar and knurling mechanism lengthwise of the cigar axis for knurling.

GEORGE HOEFLE. 

